Local Baseball Player Marvin Gorgas Given Great Send-off To The MLB

MERJA LEHNITENReminder News

East Hampton turned out in droves at Sears Park on a beautiful Sunday, June 22, to say "so long" their local Bellringers' baseball hero, Marvin Gorgas. For the next four months, Gorgas, who was drafted by the Seattle Mariners, will be in a training session in Arizona, where he will practice with the Mariners' local minor league teams until moving up.

The local baseball hero was admired and lauded for his character and personality by friends of all ages, while his parents, extended family and grandparents were beaming with pride at their son's achievements and popularity among local parents and students.

Gorgas will return to East Hampton in early fall, and then go back the following spring with the Mariners to train again. He is not sure what he will do in between. There are many people and programs in town willing to advise him. Several state and community colleges within Connecticut now have "late start" fall and "early finish" spring accelerated programs for just such athletes; but, Gorgas did not say what his specific plans might be outside of training. He planned to board a flight to Arizona at 11 a.m. on the morning of Monday, June 23.

"All these people are awesome; they are like a second family to me. I am so blessed by the support they have given me," said Gorgas.

"We love him - he is a like a son to all the moms in this town," said one of the organizers, Beth Vickery.

It was not just his baseball skills that impress others - it was his good sportsmanship, role modeling, and positive attitude that many people spoke about. Miller Koziel, a much younger aspiring baseball player, stood in line with other boys his age to get an autograph from his local hero.

"This is not just about baseball," said Gloria DeLeon. "He's a spectacular young man, always positive, polite, and always kind to everyone. He helps the underdog and supports the Little League players. We did this event for Marvin; he belongs to East Hampton."

Marvin Gorgas's father, his namesake Marvin Grogas, was there, as well as his mother Nelly Velazquez, grandfather John Maltese, grandmother Sherry Maltese, and siblings Adam Percival and Amanda Percival and their mom. "We are a blended family," said Amanda Percival.

Dance music, an Italian buffet, cupcakes in East Hampton's colors, huge baskets of flowers with the Seattle Mariners' logo, a cake specially made by Stop & Shop with the hero's picture, platters of cookies and chocolates made by local moms, and trays of cheese and crackers and other snacks made the day.

Yady Russell, Fatima La Chance, Sue Annelli, Denise Russo, Isabelle Di Martino, Melinda Chunko, Gloria DeLeon and organizer Beth Vickery all arrived a few hours early with their spouses to decorate and set up the pavilion with the food, a huge Seattle Mariner banner, and the music. But it may just be the hand-inscribed memory book and poster the group gave to the young baseball player that will be the most cherished gift of all.